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29.12.15

I didn't grow up with Art. There are no artists in my family and in my culture, most artists come from poor families because that was the only way they could support themselves. Art was never encouraged or thought of. Of course, time have changed and being an artist and a creative is finally thought highly of. Back when I was fifteen and fresh from Burma, I found so much refuge in museums and books. Something about standing in front of larger than life art pieces make me feel so happy. I guess I have been trying to recreate that feeling and appreciation for art with the girls.

For Christmas all I wanted was a John Waterhouse's print to go inside this frame. The frame is about seven foot tall and four foot wide. B who is now used to my crazy ways got me a print of Waterhouse's Circe Invidiosa.

As a lover of Greek mythology, I have a soft spot for Waterhouse's paintings. His romantic colors and depictions of women are incredible. There is something dark and moody about this particular painting that really attracted me. Circe, who is the goddess of magic, is seen here poisoning the water to turn her rival into a monster. I was as giddy as a child when I got this print...so can you guess how disappointed I was when I found out the print was only three foot wide and too small to fit into my frame? I cried. While trying to figure out what to do with the print, I decided to hang it up in Bella's room. The print is printed on a heavy canvas and all I had to do was used decorative nails to hang it up on the wall.

Without a frame, the print seems flat, doesn't it? After finding out how much large frames really cost, I decided to make one myself. All I did was buy three pieces of eight foot moldings to build a simple frame. I added left over appliques to the corners and gilded the frame.

How gorgeous does it look against the black wall?

The details on the print are amazing. It actually looks and feels like a painting.

Here you can see the details of the frame. I nailed the two pieces together. The frame is very light since there is no backing.

Where there is darkness, there is light. In this case, where there is a problem, there is always a solution. Now I am in search for another painting to go into the frame. I suspect soon our house will actually look like a museum...and I can't wait for that day!!

15.12.15

I think it might be fair to say that I am turning into a crazy chair lady. I have chairs. I collect chairs. People give me chairs. Chairs remind people of me. So this was the case with this little vintage chair. A friend of mine found it at a local Savers and bought it for me.

It had broken cane on the side. I stripped it down to its bare bone. It was the perfect size for Bella's room and she even picked out what she wanted me to reupholstered it with. Faux Fur and Velvet. Yup, that is my child. Here is Bella's chair all beautified.

I decided to use two different color velvet for contrast.

It is the perfect chair for her little desk.

Of course, the chair also got gold leaf treatment.

I might be obsessed with this new dark moody room. The room isn't always this dark. Actually it is the brightest room in the house with lots of windows. I love the moodiness of the black wall when the sun sets.

It took a six year old child to push me out of my comfort zone but I can honestly say this might be my our favorite room in the house.